Wine pairings, in plain English
Every other pairing guide tells you “Pinot Noir.” We tell you which bottle, what it costs, and where to find it.
What wine goes with turkey?
If you only buy one bottle of wine for turkey, make it Meiomi Pinot Noir (about $22): light enough for the white meat, fruity enough for cranberry sauce, and nobody at the table will complain.
What wine goes with ham?
An off-dry Riesling is the best match for ham, since the touch of sweetness lines up with the glaze, and the acidity cuts the salt.
What wine goes with prime rib?
If you only buy one bottle of wine for prime rib, make it Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (about $20): a proper Cabernet with the grip and dark fruit that beef fat is made for.
What wine goes with salmon?
Pinot Noir is the one red that works with salmon, and a dry rosé is the safest all-round pick, since salmon is rich enough to take a light red without losing its flavour.
What wine goes with steak?
Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic steak wine, and Malbec is the cheaper pick that does the same job, and both have the tannin that fatty beef needs.
What wine goes with pizza?
Chianti is the classic pizza wine because its acidity matches the tomato sauce, which is the thing most wines trip over.
What is the best wine for Thanksgiving dinner?
If you only buy one bottle of wine for Thanksgiving, make it Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages (about $13): a light, fruity red that gets along with turkey, ham and every side on the plate.
What wine goes with lamb?
Rioja and Cabernet Sauvignon are the classic lamb wines. Lamb is rich and a little gamey, and a red with savory, earthy flavor and some grip matches it better than anything fruity and soft.
What wine goes with pork?
Pinot Noir and Riesling are the best wines for pork, since pork is mild and slightly sweet, so a light red or a crisp white with a bit of fruit flatters it instead of burying it.
What wine goes with chicken?
Chardonnay is the easiest wine for chicken, and Pinot Noir is the red that works. Chicken is mild, so match the wine to the sauce and the cooking, not the bird.
What wine goes with pasta?
Match the wine to the sauce, not the pasta: an Italian red like Chianti or Montepulciano for tomato sauces, and a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio for cream, butter and seafood.
What wine goes with lasagna?
Chianti is the best wine for lasagna, since it has the acidity to match the tomato sauce and enough body to handle all that cheese and meat.
What wine goes with shrimp?
A crisp, dry white like Albariño, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc is the best wine for shrimp, because shrimp is sweet and delicate, and a zesty white works like a squeeze of lemon.
What wine goes with lobster?
Chardonnay is the classic lobster wine, and Champagne is the celebration pick, since lobster is rich and buttery, so it needs a white with real body or bubbles to cut through it.
What wine goes with sushi?
Dry sparkling wine is the best wine for sushi, because the bubbles and acidity cut through soy sauce and rice, and it works with raw fish, rolls and tempura alike.
What wine goes with chocolate?
Chocolate needs a wine at least as sweet as it is: a sweet sparkling red for milk chocolate, and Port for dark chocolate, because dry wine next to chocolate tastes sour and bitter.
What wine goes with tacos?
Dry rosé is the best all-around taco wine, and Malbec is the red for beef, since tacos are spicy, tangy and fresh, so you want a wine with fruit and acidity rather than heavy oak or tannin.
What wine goes with Indian food?
Off-dry Gewürztraminer or Riesling is the best wine for Indian food, because a touch of sweetness cools the spice, and their perfumed fruit stands up to big flavors that flatten most wines.
What wine goes with duck?
Pinot Noir is the classic duck wine, since duck is rich and a little gamey, and Pinot’s bright cherry fruit and acidity cut the fat without overpowering the meat.
What wine goes with chili?
A fruity, bold red like Shiraz, Petite Sirah or Tempranillo is the best wine for chili, since it has the weight to handle beef and beans and the ripe fruit to soften the spice.
What wine goes with BBQ?
Zinfandel is the classic BBQ wine because its jammy fruit and peppery spice match sweet, smoky sauces that make drier reds taste bitter.
What wine goes with burgers?
A juicy, medium-bodied red like Zinfandel, Malbec or a Côtes du Rhône is the best wine for burgers, since it has enough fruit for ketchup and toppings and enough grip for the beef.
What wine goes with cheese?
Sparkling wine is the most cheese-friendly wine there is, and white wine beats red with most cheeses, because the acidity and bubbles cut through the fat, while tannin in red wine often clashes.
What wine goes with Chinese food?
Off-dry Riesling is the best wine for Chinese food, since its slight sweetness balances sweet-and-sour sauces and chili heat, and its acidity cuts through anything fried.
What wine goes with Thai food?
Off-dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are the best wines for Thai food, since a touch of sweetness tames chili heat, and zesty acidity matches lime, lemongrass and herbs.